How old is too old for a stroller?

[luvmy2babies]

I pushed my daughter around for a bit at age 7 on our first trip. I did not rent a stroller for her though. I rented it for my son, then 10 months old. On the bus ride back to the resort, I was always wearing ds, so once we got back, I might push her to the room as she was usually exhausted. It was Thanksgiving week and just me, her and her brother. So there were a couple of times when I was wearing ds after a ride and we had to go through a massive crowd and I was like, “get in until we get through this so I don’t lose you.” She also got sick during the trip and I pushed her around the day after she recovered while she got her strength back.

When she was 8, we went to Sea World for two days and MK on the 3rd day of a Fall Break trip. We did 30 Theme park hours including 9am to 9pm at MK on the 3rd day no issues. We took a very leisurely pace.

We did the same when we returned for a 10 day trip in June when she was 9. We took a very leisurely pace. We took breaks. We got spots for parades well before they started so it would add to the time we were off our feet. I mixed in half days and full days. And we had a day in the middle where we didn’t have park time scheduled. She only complained about being tired on our last day. We had spent the morning at AK and went back to the resort to change and rest before dinner at Chef Mickey’s. To my frustration, ds refused to nap and dd refused to rest. They both just played the entire time and eventually I just put my feet up. Eventually we had to leave. Ds of course fell asleep as soon as the bus pulled out heading to MK. I wasn’t concerned because we left in enough time for ds to get an hour to an hour and a quarter of sleep. Dd however, started whining as soon as we started down the walk way to the Contemporary. It progressed to a “I can’t walk enough step” by the time we got to the resort door. I resolved that the money I budgeted for the before meal picture might go to eating a cancellation fee. I let her rest as long as I could then we went inside. Once we had a table and she was off her feet, she was fine. Some child screamed Mickey and ds was immediately at attention with a big smile on his face. We had a great meal, character interaction was amazing, and while we were waiting for the monorail to get back to MK, dd apologized for her behavior.

We are going again in a few weeks. She’ll be 10 and most of the time when we go places she is pushing her brother’s stoller. Our zoo tests your stamina more than a day at Disney. It has a lot of hills. It is to the point where there are signs at the top of various ones letting you know you made it. Still, I can tell you without a doubt if there was an option, she would have me pushing her around. She just knows it isn’t. But let's face it. You spend one day at the zoo...maybe 2 if you have a membership and live close. The first 2 days everybody's fine. Days 3 - 7 is when there likely needs to be an adjustment in the pace or everybody will crack, not just the 5 to 8 year-old set.

My daughter also knows there will be time for her to rest. I can say we’ll pace ourselves like usual. My son is 3 and probably would walk, but my arm would be sore by day 2 from keeping him in line. Just so much stimulation there for a recovering runner. But he needs his stroller for now. He takes power naps at Disney. He is not a return to the resort napper. He’s a “fall asleep at the bus stop and wake up as soon as we get back to the resort” napper. Or a “sit on the bed and poke mommy instead of going to sleep, then nod off on the bus back to the park once sister convinces mommy to go back out” napper. So unless we have planned for a half day, we just let him nod off when he will.

 

[diamondpixienc]

Not crazy at all. I am renting a double from Apple Strollers for our upcoming August trip for my 3yo and extra storage but if my very petit 8yo decides she want to catch a ride and we can keep touring in the August heat... we can just Saddle up and keep it moving!

 

[ktak08]

Not crazy at all. I am renting a double from Apple Strollers for our upcoming August trip for my 3yo and extra storage but if my very petit 8yo decides she want to catch a ride and we can keep touring in the August heat... we can just Saddle up and keep it moving!

Exactly!! Outside of Disney, my children do not use strollers. But we will certainly have one in the parks for rest, parade seating, storage, crowd containment etc. However, we do a lot of things at Disney that we don't do at home...kids staying up past bedtime, eating lots of cupcakes, spending $230 to eat dinner "just for the experience"...so why would having a stroller be an exception to any of this? One week part time in a stroller is NOT going to stunt my child's independence.

 

[rjb123]

on our last trip our three were 6, 4 and 18 months. We brought a single stroller and hardly ever used it! Maybe the baby napped in it once or twice? We spend long days at the parks but our kids are active and are used to walking around, not being pushed around. We are heading back in a few weeks and now they are 9, 7 and 3 and I am considering not taking one at all. Our 3 year old has not used a stroller in forever- I will have to dig it out of the attic if we take it! Honestly, I think that it is just better for kids to walk. Burns off the sugar (we allow treats I would NEVER allow at home while at Disney!!) they are easier to keep together without pushing a stroller through the crowds (makes me twitch thinking about it!) and frankly I LIKE to walk. So do they! We had a pedometer last trip and averaged 7-9 miles daily with no issues.
As always, people should do what they think is best, but since you asked, I would NEVER put a healthy, able bodied child of the age you are describing in a stroller. Nor would my children WANT to ride! They would be HORRIFIED at the suggestion!!! I think that using a stroller with children of this age is just perpetuating a sedentary lifestyle, which we all should be trying to avoid. When I was a child (70-80's) kids didn't ride in a stroller at that age (and yes, we did many trips to Disney when I was a child!) and we survived and thrived. So why would we do it for our kids?

 

[Sarah Millar01]

Everyone knows their own kids and at the end of the day we all pay a lot of money to go to Disney and want to have the best, most relaxed time possible! I have 6 children myself aged from 18 - 4 years and I most definitely will be taking a buggy for my youngest Max who will have just turned 5 at the time of travel! Another added bonus is a buggy carries bags etc Have a fabulous time!

 

[Sunlover317]

My son is 5. We will be taking a stroller. He will walk most of the time but there will be times he will need a break. When he was 4, I was told he was too old for a stroller but the same lady was pulling her 6 year old in a wagon and I don't see the difference. I tend to agree that 5 and under is fine, 6 is iffy but it may prevent extra stress. 7 year olds and up, are pushing it. That said, nobody wants to carry around a 6-7 year old so if you know it's going to be a problem, take it.

 

[Suellen]

Do they want to ride in a stroller???
At Disney, the answer is YES!!!!
My nine year old would love me to push him around in a stroller at Disney. That doesn't mean I will!

My kids would die of embarrassment if their friends from school happened to see them riding in a stroller at Disney (or anywhere for that matter). On top of that they love the freedom of wandering around and looking at things without the confinement of a stroller.

It is actually a bit comical to even think of my almost 6 year old in a stroller for any reason she hasn't used one in so long.

Every kid is different though and you may even find your own children to be different from each other.

I think though all too often it is the parents that don't want to give it up... so they have a place for their stuff without carrying it. I saw a couple of people (I don't think they were a couple... just two people together) that had a stroller with NO kids... it was packed full of stuff they were lugging around the park.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

The politically correct answer is do what is best for you.

My kid (assuming she is able bodied) will not be in a stroller at 8. We will not give her the option. The "does she need it" debate will start at 5 and we will reevaluate each trip.

It's not a vacation for mom and dad if they have to push a heavy stroller filled with a big kid and tons of crap around. A bad attitude won't be tolerated either. Neither one of us was raised that way, so she won't be either. Want to complain that you are too tired? Ok, then maybe next year we will not go on the trip because you can't handle it. Again, that is how we were raised and we have a lot of grandparent support so we will raise our DD this way unless she has special needs.

 

[sss]

I will be honest, I did not go through the six pages of replies....my girls are currently 10 (fraternal twin girls) and 8. I am trying very hard to remember the last trip we took to Disney where we used strollers....I want to guess that they were 5 and 7 maybe....Maybe we just rented one when my youngest was 4 nd the other two were 6...can't remember excactly, honestly.We used strollers just at Disney long after we had stopped using them at home, btw.
The bottom line is this...ignore the judgey voices and listen to your own. Every child is different and since no one knows yours or your family style, they can't say with authority what you should do. Frankly if your son doesn't have any physical or psychological challenges but is not um, athletic then worst case scenario you rent one after you get there...but don't let him in on at that option. Simply tell him you aren't and see how he does.
I always tell my friends that Disney is the happiest place on earth and frankly, to some degree, I think parents can get a pass here and there too to keep the mood light. So if you find he can't do it and it'll keep everyone from losing their minds, I would consider it.
Trust yourself and see what your little guy can do!
Good luck!
-sss

 

[Freesia123]

First criteria would be, does your child still take a daily nap? If yes then you need a stroller if you are doing full days

Second: does your child have a medical condition that impedes walking?

Third: are you going to be going fast and furious? Or leisurely?

 

[Jey12]

I've been around here long enough and read through enough stroller threads to know I probably shouldn't comment. It's late and I can't resist. OP do what you think is best for your family and your child. Equating what one does at disney to how you parent in the real world doesn't work for me. In the real world I doubt these children who would never been seen in a stroller past the age of 6 months are dressing up as a princess or pirate in public at the age of 8 years or running up to hug chipmunks on the street. In WDW they do. They also get tired and grumpy as well. Kids are over stimulated, often under hydrated and can sometimes need a quiet area to relax. Saying a 6 year old has more stamina than an adult is probably true, but they do not have the mental ability to process all of the crowds, lines, walking, and general excitement going on around them. Especially if this is not a common place they visit. Yes you could find a quiet place to sit and recharge, you could head back to the hotel room and nap, but if you can accomplish the same mental break for them while walking across the park then why not? I think with the older kids in strollers it's probably more they need a mental break than a physical one and that would account for the whining most often. Most 8 year olds don't know to say I am mentally exhausted. All they know is they are tired and so that must mean physically, so they whine and want to sit. Honestly how many adults can tell the difference between mental and physical exhaustion?

Anyway to answer your question. Are you crazy? Probably not. What age do I think is too old? Based on my child who had a stroller last year at the age of 6 and is now 7, she is now too old. The reason is because we have now been two WDW twice, when she was 5 and 6, so the rush to do everything possible is not so much a factor. I don't need a space for her to calm her mind and recharge her body as we cruise across the park. Plus she's grown enough that I personally do not want to push her around. Although i did enjoy the space to carry stuff, and the stroller was also nice for my tired body to lean on while we walk. I won't lie.

As for those who think me allowing my 6 year old to have a stroller that she used once a day, if that on a 7 day vacation last year contributes to childhood obesity or makes her a princess...meh. Isn't the point of going to Disney is to be a princess there and not at home? Isn't that part of the magic? She hasn't been in a stroller at home since she was 18 months old. I would challenge my child is more physically fit than most if you want to go that far. She's a level 4 on her gym team, is in the gym doing conditioning and training with gym team for over 4 hours a week, and if she has any body fat I don't know where she keeps it.

My suggestion is if you think you might need the stroller bring it. Leave it in the room and the first time your child whines about wanting a break, try taking a small one in a quiet space away from the crowds and excitement. If they continue on complaining point out that you will have to go all the way back to the room to get it and they would miss out on, then list everything you can think of in the park, see if that fixes the problem. Also watch for signs that your kid is getting tired before they hit that whining point. Take a break then. If a kid is over stimulated and over tired it's much more difficult to bring them back to a point of reason than before they hit that point. If none of that works then you have the stroller so you can enjoy the rest of your trip. I know for us last year we left the stroller over by Buzz Lightyear and we were way across the park and my 6 year old asked for it. We sat down and rested for about 20 mins and then I said if we go get it we are not coming back to this part of the park and you won't be able to do (insert the fun rides they wanted or things to see.) Because she was rested she said it's ok I can wait. We didn't grab the stroller until the Halloween parade toward the end and she immediately fell asleep in the stroller, but DH and I were still able to enjoy it. It's your trip too.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP do what you think is best for your family and your child. Equating what one does at disney to how you parent in the real world doesn't work for me.

Your whole post is spot-on, but I especially like this part.

 

[brymolmom]

Jey - Good points and I agree with a lot of it. I do NOT think that a stroller at WDW necessarily equates to obesity. It is only a handful of days out of the child's life. But I still think that 8 years old is lunacy. Yes, we want our kids to be princesses at Disney. Yes they do a lot of 'kid like' things that they wouldn't do at home. BUT, the OP specifically stated that the fear was that the 8 year old would whine too much for the trip to be enjoyable. That is where a HUGE red flag goes up for me. And even on vacations, especially on vacations where the parent is going above and beyond - spending lots of money and making lots of plans - an 8 year old child should not be in control to the point of being able to dictate requiring a stroller or ruining the whole family's trip. 8 year old healthy children do not NEED a stroller....although it is true that many WANT a stroller. That's the point for me and likely where I differ from those on the other side of the argument - Our family trips are for the family, the entire family. They are not specifically for one or both of our kids. They do some things on the trip they would rather not for the good of the family. And teaching a 'child is not the center of the universe' type lesson or not is something that I think can be impacted by a trip to Disney. How many of us writing here would have ever gone on a trip again if we had whined enough to ruin others' trip when we were 8? And never would a stroller back then had fit us when we were 8. There are reasons why young adults today think they are entitled and often the center of the universe. Is a 7 day trip going to make or break it? Probably not....But those who are doing it and feel it is OK to whine to that extent likely are not only getting that vibe on a 7 day trip.

 

[Jey12]

Jey - Good points and I agree with a lot of it. I do NOT think that a stroller at WDW necessarily equates to obesity. It is only a handful of days out of the child's life. But I still think that 8 years old is lunacy. Yes, we want our kids to be princesses at Disney. Yes they do a lot of 'kid like' things that they wouldn't do at home. BUT, the OP specifically stated that the fear was that the 8 year old would whine too much for the trip to be enjoyable. That is where a HUGE red flag goes up for me. And even on vacations, especially on vacations where the parent is going above and beyond - spending lots of money and making lots of plans - an 8 year old child should not be in control to the point of being able to dictate requiring a stroller or ruining the whole family's trip. 8 year old healthy children do not NEED a stroller....although it is true that many WANT a stroller. That's the point for me and likely where I differ from those on the other side of the argument - Our family trips are for the family, the entire family. They are not specifically for one or both of our kids. They do some things on the trip they would rather not for the good of the family. And teaching a 'child is not the center of the universe' type lesson or not is something that I think can be impacted by a trip to Disney. How many of us writing here would have ever gone on a trip again if we had whined enough to ruin others' trip when we were 8? And never would a stroller back then had fit us when we were 8. There are reasons why young adults today think they are entitled and often the center of the universe. Is a 7 day trip going to make or break it? Probably not....But those who are doing it and feel it is OK to whine to that extent likely are not only getting that vibe on a 7 day trip.

I cannot argue with your points at all. I think my main complaint about these stroller threads is so many focus on the fact a child of a certain age should have the physical stamina to walk the parks. For me I think for kids 5-6 and older it's more the mental exhaustion that goes past a point of reason, and I'm not sure I've ever seen someone point that out? Everything you said is valid and I completely agree for use in real life. If I thought my 7 year old would whine so much about a stroller anywhere we go, including Disney, I would take a good long look at their behavior on a normal day at home and how I deal with it. Except that if you're close to the age I am, I disagree that strollers back then wouldn't fit an 8 year old. Strollers back in my day would have totally fit us and worked at the age of 8. Those things were made of steel, could fit 4 kids at a time, were covered in a healthy dose of lead paint, had a basket big enough for our lawn darts and could withstand a nuclear attack. Although the OP didn't ask what parenting mistakes they had made to cause the whining of an 8 year old to ruin their trip if they didn't bring a stroller though. Do I think they should look at why one child is allowed so much control over the trip? Probably. But I wasn't asked my thoughts on that. I have to admit I'm also looking at this from my own personal standpoint of enjoyment. If their 8 year old is in front of me in line for the Haunted Mansion and is throwing a huge fit because they want a stroller, by golly I say get that kid a stroller if they'll knock it off! It really boils down to my enjoyment of my trip.

 

[samacita]

I agree with the concept alluded to above that not all family principles should be thrown out the window on vacation. Of course, a little splurge here and there is fun, but I think we're asking too much of kids if we load them up on sugar, deprive them of sleep, and expect them to keep up with 12 hrs of commando pace. I don't personally believe that a stroller is the solution to justify those choices. We will still eat healthfully, prioritize sleep, and pace ourselves. Time will tell, but I'm hoping this will mean no need for a stroller for our 7 yo.

Back to the OP though, you will figure out what's best for you and your kid - trust your instincts!!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

We do not use a stroller past the age of 3. We take it slow and rest often. Usually it's mommy that needs to take a rest.

 

[Hayliesmom]

My daughter is 7 and we will be going next year where she will turn 8. She is a tiny little thing and often gets me to pick her up and carry her when I'm not paying attention (although she usually gets set back down a few minutes later and told she is too big to be carried I've also seen some of the 5 year olds in her dance class pick her up if that gives you any clue how little she is.
She can dance for 4 hours straight of dance class but the minute you ask her to walk for more that 10 minutes she starts to complain. When we went last year I ordered a stroller off of Amazon for our trip and it was fantastic! She still naps a lot in the afternoon so she napped almost daily in the stroller. If you notice I said I had to order one, because we didn't own a stroller at home. I also sold it in a consignment sale shortly after. For this trip I don't plan on getting a stroller. I do plan on trying to walk more in the evenings this summer and over winter break. We have already talked about that we're not going to do a lot of character autographs so I'm hoping this means we won't be in such a rush at the park and if she NEEEEEDS to go take a nap we can. I'm not completely writing the stroller off though. If it gets to the point that she needs to nap while at the park then I will go rent one. I'm not going to rent one simply because she doesn't want to walk though. I always tease her and ask her to carry me because my feet hurt whenever she says that to me.

I hope this post helps! As others have said, do what you feel is best for your family!

 

[rebekah8284]

I think it depends on the individual child and for how long of a trip you are going. When we last went we took a double stroller for my 1 year old and my nephew who was 2 at the time. However whenever they were out of the stroller one of my two 5 year old nieces would hop in. Its nice for them to be able to take a short break. Its a very busy time in Disney and some children will need a break. On the 5th day of our trip my smallest niece who was the same size as her 2 year old brother complained about walking as she was worn out it had been a busy week. She told us she wished they made strollers for four children to sit in so she could sit with her cousins lol. Can you imagine pushing that? As she was so worn out we simply made it an early day left the parks and let the kids have some relaxing time at the resort. I agree it isnt just physically but mentally exhausting going to the parks especially if its the kids first time and they are overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds. So I would do what is best for your family.

We are going again as a big family group in February and I am debating about getting a stroller or not. Its not a matter of if my son can walk or not I know he can do long distances. We go on walks in the forest and at parks. However he is autistic and if he decides he doesn't want to go somewhere or he wants to go a different direction he just lays down on the floor wherever he is. And I am thinking if this happens at Disney do I really want to have to carry him around he isn't as lite as he used to be. There is always hoping he won't do it as Disney is such a magical place but think I would be angry at myself if I went and then wanted one and didnt have one.

 

[mslhb]

How old is too old for a stroller?

4 and under - definitely use a stroller
5-6 - grey area... Depends on kid and circumstances
7+ too old for stroller

This is totally just my opinion. In the end you have to do what is best for your family.. And who cares what other people think.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

How old is too old for a stroller?

4 and under - definitely use a stroller
5-6 - grey area... Depends on kid and circumstances
7+ too old for stroller

This is totally just my opinion. In the end you have to do what is best for your family.. And who cares what other people think.

I agree with this completely. Other than special needs there really is no reason to have a kid in a stroller at the point the stroller is for you, not for them. When you have kids on a vacation YOU MUST go at their pace. If you can't bring yourself to do that then maybe you need to plan a different vacation.